MUMBAI: The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and credit card major Visa International have renewed their exclusive partnership agreement making Visa the official payments sponsor of the IPC through the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
The agreement - which was the first of its kind for the IPC when created two years ago - includes exclusive marketing and promotional rights for Visa within the payment services category. Visa and its member banks will continue to develop promotions featuring the IPC, which, in turn, will receive a financial contribution as well as marketing and media support through Visa cardholder communications, promotions and advertising.
Visa currently sponsors the Paralympic Games as part of its agreement with the International Olympic Committee to support both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Visa has the exclusive global marketing rights and official status for the Paralympic Games through 2012.
The IPC is the international governing body of sports for athletes with a disability. It supervises and co-ordinates the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games and other multi-disability competitions, of which the most important are the World and Regional Championships. The IPC also supports the recruitment and development of athletes at a local, national and international level across all performance levels.
In working with the IPC and individual National Paralympic Committees, Visa has developed marketing initiatives designed to increase Visa transactions and brand awareness while providing numerous benefits for Visa cardholders and Paralympic athletes. Promotional programmes, competitions, marketing and financial support will help increase awareness of the Paralympic Games and their inspirational message.
The Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games will take place in Torino, Italy, from 10 to 19 March 2006, and will feature 1,300 athletes, coaches and officials representing around 40 National Paralympic Committees. Winter athletes will compete in four sports - Alpine Skiing, Ice Sledge Hockey, Nordic Skiing and Wheelchair Curling.
